Empoli FC Away Shirt 2023/24 – Viktor Kovalenko – No. 8 – Player Issued – Kappa – Serie A Championship

Viktor Kovalenko's Player Issued Shirt: White and Blue in the 2023/24 Serie A

The second official Empoli FC shirt for the 2023/2024 season in its Player Issued version is an authentic example of one of the most beautiful white kits in the recent history of the Tuscan club. Produced by Kappa as part of a multi-year technical agreement with the club, the shirt features the clean and essential design that characterized the away kit in that Serie A season. The internal label reads GARA and states size Large, attesting to the professional nature of the item. On the chest, the large Computer Gross sponsor is flanked by the Saint-Gobain logo, with the official Empoli FC crest stitched in the center. The back is personalized with the number 8 and the surname KOVALENKO in blue lettering, with the Pediatrica sponsor below. On the left sleeve, the official Serie A TIM patch is applied, indicating the 2023-2024 season. The inner collar features the official hashtag #EMPOLIFC1920. Size L, Made in Turkey production. Please note the presence of a stain in the chest area, visible in the photos and priced accordingly.

The Player: Viktor Kovalenko

Viktor Kovalenko (Kherson, February 14, 1996) is a Ukrainian midfielder who grew up in the Shakhtar Donetsk youth academy, a club with which he reached the UEFA Youth League final and with which he totaled over 129 appearances and 23 goals in the top Ukrainian league, winning 4 championships, 4 Ukrainian Cups, and 2 Supercups. In February 2021, he arrived in Italy at Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta, before being loaned to Spezia where he played two consecutive seasons in Serie A, making over 40 appearances. In the summer transfer window of 2023, Atalanta loaned him to Empoli: in the blue shirt, Kovalenko proved to be a valuable tactical weapon, scoring a decisive goal in the memorable 1-0 victory at the Maradona against Italian champions Napoli on November 12, 2023. He finished the 2023/24 season with 17 appearances and 2 goals, actively contributing to the Tuscan club's survival in the top league. Internationally, he has over 30 appearances with the Ukrainian national team, with whom he participated in the 2016 European Championship in France, and was top scorer at the 2015 U-20 World Cup with 5 goals.

What is a Player Issued shirt?

A Player Issued shirt is a jersey prepared specifically for a certain player but not necessarily worn in an official match. It differs from the commercial version by a series of precise technical characteristics: professional finishes, personalization with the player's name and number, match-grade cut and materials, and the specific GARA (match) indication on the internal label. It is hierarchically superior to the store version and inferior only to the Match Worn. For collectors, it represents an authentic piece of very high historical and commercial value, often impossible to find on the market years after its production.

Authenticity and MTM Guarantee

MTM Memorabilia is the Italian benchmark for demanding collectors of authentic sports memorabilia. Each jersey is selected with rigorous criteria of authenticity, provenance, and quality by our experts. The originality of this item is guaranteed directly by MTM. Every shipment is made with rigid, shockproof, and moisture-proof packaging to ensure maximum protection during transport. Express courier with delivery within 24/72 hours of payment confirmation, both for Italy and abroad.